im gonna disagree on Depp. though hes a great actor, every character he plays is incredibly weird and/or eccentric, save for maybe in Public Enemies.

Daniel Day Lewis has amazing range. So much that many people wouldn't even recognize him in one role if they knew him from another.

What about any actresses?

Meryl Streep?

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What about any actresses?

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Hollywood is one of the most sexist institutions around. Guys are allowed to be versatile. Women are not. Streep and Close KINDA are exceptions, but not really. Cate Blanchett probably as the most range, but ladies of Hollywood, you have two basic choices:

a)


or

b)

Ewan McGregor?

A female suggestion:

Uma is a good call. Still, she's the definite exception.

Charlize Theron

Theron has been a vixen or action chick in every movie except monster. She may have range, but she's not allowed to use it.

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Theron has been a vixen or action chick in every movie except monster. She may have range, but she's not allowed to use it.

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She earns style points for her Arrested Development role.

Just a thought.

Mel Gibson

What women want
Forever Young
Conspiracy Theory (I think his best acting job)
....

Martin Sheen

James Marsden

Dennis Hopper (RIP)

Vince Vaughn (see the Psycho remake, Clay Pigeons, or Domestic Disturbance for his great villain roles.)

Warren Beatty

Donald Sutherland

Mila Jovovich

Robert De Niro

Robin Williams

John Lithgow

Gary Oldman is the correct answer


















[This message has been edited by MW03 (edited 9/2/2010 3:55p).]

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Milla Jovovich

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She's hot, but I'm not seeing it.

Resident Evil, Fifth Element, Ultra-Violet...

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Mel Gibson

What women want
Forever Young
Conspiracy Theory (I think his best acting job)
....

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Didn't he also play Hitler in Inglourious Basterds ?

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Some really good answers on here.

I especially like the analysis of actresses. Sad but true. Once you get past the obvious answers of Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Uma Thurman, Dame Judi Densh, Helen Mirren there isn't many left. Very unfortunate because I think there should be more opportunities for Rebecca DeMornay between The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and roles appropriate of a "woman of a certain age".

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is an excellent answer.

Robert Duvall

I can't believe nobody said Hilary Swank when they asked about versatile actresses. She is great in pretty much every role and throws herself into it completely like a female Daniel Day Lewis. They said she pretended to be a dude around everyone for like a month to prepare for Boys Dont Cry.

I'd also add Angelina Jolie, maybe not so much lately but she had a wide range of different types of roles early to mid career.

Natalie Portman has the ability and has shown glimpses of what she can do from Closer to V for Vendetta. I'm really intrigued by what looks like is going to be a great performance and tripped out movie from Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.

Swank and Portman are both very good actresses, but I wouldn't say either have shown a great range.

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I'd also add Angelina Jolie, maybe not so much lately but she had a wide range of different types of roles early to mid career.

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Salt was planned around Tom Cruise until he dropped out right before filming, and she replaced him. They literally did a "find and replace" on the script changing "him" to "her". That's pretty damn versatile, when you can replace a male movie star as a female, and still look damn sexy doing it.

Has anybody mentioned Academy Award Nominee Matt Dillon? He is a great comedic actor but is also great in serious roles.

Ya, Daniel Day Lewis has been all over the ball park and good at every postion.

+1

Day-Lewis might be the 2nd best actor ever, behind Brando.

Just because they play a lot of different characters, doesn't give them good range. They have to be excellent in every category.

I pick Daniel Day Lewis, Tom Hanks, Robert Duvall and Gary Oldman.

[This message has been edited by Ag86Sig83 (edited 9/7/2010 2:43p).]

Another vote for Daniel Day-Lewis. I've seen him in eight movies. He's one of those actors you'll catch in something on cable and wonder, "Who's this guy? He's awesome!" and then you see his name in the closing credits.